76 RX-3 Build
 

Saturday picked up my new project car, 1976 RX-3. This was just a roller with partial interior. I actually was looking to get FD #3 and was toying with the idea of an RX-3. My wife said she would rather I build an RX-3 and this one showed for sale close to home. Good shape compared to some of the other cars out there. Some rot at the battery tray, spare well and a couple spots at the rear quarter. Floors are in great condition. So far my kids (2&5) have helped in the tear down or maybe provided entertainment. Plan is to put in an REW and trans I have sitting. Rear is a toss up as I have an fd roller sitting and have though of doing an IRS conversion. Otherwise the easy route will be an 8.8 and composite leafs. Front I really want to move to IFS with a steering rack. I will be need to narrow everything by at least 4-5 in. Which will allow everything to work with flares. Thinking 16x9/10 wheels. I believe I will end up making new front frame rails and adding some X-members in the rear and fuel cell in trunk floor. Possibly a partial roll cage with removable harness bar for kid rides. Obviously paint, body work and interior will be needed.

Parts are obviously scarce. In my mind I want to replace the front fenders, hood, front fascia/apron. Trying to find good sheet metal seems to be a crap sheet. Getting quotes on fiberglass parts from Puerto Rico JCS Fiberglass, but am a bit scared of shipping prices. Other parts needed will be the rear seat, carpet, dash pad, front bumper, grille, wipers and windshield.

May try and get some people rounded up to get a group buy of body parts so I could shipping prices down.

Also not sure how I'm going to get all the waves out of the roof. Just seems way too thin. May add a brace to help it keep in place.

Sure things will change but there is where I am.

Body doesn't look so bad . yea seems like all these old guys are a bugger getting parts for my 73 wagon is the same not bad but it would be nice to have a new fender and a front bumper i would be happy . if you happen to come across someone that can supply for these old guys please post :)

Carzy Ralph says Mazda only imported about 200 1976 models, so they are quite rare! yours looks pretty nice too

that's wild, I'm going to feel bad about hacking the front frame rails...

Who ever "Carzy Ralph" is wrong. There were alot more than 200 76 model imported...

Pics of the car stripped except for a few of the exterior trims. Jeez these things are light.

looks solid
 

:nod:the. Car looks solid! I wish I get my shell with complete floor... Best wishes!

Carzy Ralph's guesses are better than most people's facts. He's like the Dr Spock of carz.

Guesses and fact are two are different things.... I can pretty much tell you that more than 200 were made and delivered in the US. But hey what do I know. Am just a Mazda enthusiast with mazda book and stuff...

there more than 198 since Ive owned 2 (last one was sold appriox 10 yrs ago) lol

Bought an 8.8 rear axle, miata rack for the narrowed FD suspension, and a lot of materials for my braces, frame rails and cross members. Used dry and removed the sound deadening and stripper for removing the frt frame horn undercoating. Need to narrow the rear axle. The explorer axle is offset so I will shorten the axle using an addition passenger side axle shaft. Should get me to 56.5 mounting to mounting.

That floor looks like new! The steel of that car is in great shape! Good restoration project shell you pick Sir.

Nice find , my buddy told me about this but at the time I couldn't get it �� but I seethe car is in very good condition wow. And I know it was a good price too .me personally I wouldn't cut out any part of the car I would leave as stock as you can , yes add to it of course but to cut I just couldn't . If it really rusty and you fixing yea but to change it I wouldnt

I have been thinking the same thing. I may just clean up the stock rails and use them to mount a subframe and add my UCA mounts. The trunk pan is gone though. Will have to think about this some more I have the front FD suspension out and ready to review all the suspension points again.

Pulled the FD Suspension apart and dropped the RX-3 suspension. Will have to make some cad models of the rails and current crossmember holes to start the subframe from. Will also need to determine ride height and whether I'll use the FD suspension arms or fabricate my own to also adjust the track. Need to work out the tie rod in location on the miata rack to make sure my suspension points align. Anyone already have a model of the rails in a drawing or solid model?

Pulled the FD Suspension apart and dropped the RX-3 suspension. Will have to make some cad models of the rails and current crossmember holes to start the subframe from. Will also need to determine ride height and whether I'll use the FD suspension arms or fabricate my own to also adjust the track. Need to work out the tie rod in location on the miata rack to make sure my suspension points align. Anyone already have a model of the rails in a drawing or solid model?

Need some help with the ride height. It appears the stock ride height was around 8-8.5 inches to the pseudo frame rails? Looking to figure out what stance will look best with a larger wheel package (15-16) assuming a 24.5" diameter tire? Thoughts or suggestions?

FD Trans is a bit long and I will need to Pull the shifter hole back about 6-8". Will also help with the engine placement. Seems like the stock position was quite a bit forward of where I would want it to be anyway.

Pics with a 17" rim with the FD Upper in approx position.

FD Transmission is obviously longer to the shifter than most. It appears though that Mazda gave us an option in the inspection cover which shares the same bolt pattern as the shifter. I'll have to mill the reverse lockout/switch arm for a turned lathe bushing. Will give me approximately 5" of shifter position back.

Also found the outer skin of the frame rails had enough rot to require removal. Has be rethinking replacing the rails with some AutoWeld front frame rails. Took a pic of the internal reinforcement if anyone was interested.

Nice modification, can't wait to see it done!

Narrowed axle at ride height and some of the clearances to the pig.

Fritts,
Congrats on the Rx-3. Not sure about numbers but 76 was a bit of a forgotten year. 76 came with the best steering wheel, shift knob and tail light combo, in my opinion. Anyway, I have an Rx-3 dash pad (cracked) you can have it for free if you pay the shipping. Lmk

Regards,

Ozzy.

nice good luck with it...

Lots of life happening so its hard to get back to the car but I got the axle cleaned up and test fit the flex a form springs that showed up. Have yet to fit them to the car will have to fabricate new mounts and a new rear cross member for the larger spring eyes.

Have you had any luck with moving the shifter forward in the transmission?